Relay



AUS- 22, 1939- 1 E. GARDlNl-:R '2,170,135

RELAY v Filed Feb. 18, 1958 zsheets-sheet l Ea/'enlan- Aug. 22, 1939. L. E. GARDiNl-:R

RELAY Filed Feb. 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RELAY Laurance E. Gardiner, Stratford, N. J. Application February 18, 1938, Serial No. 191,137

18 Claims. (Cl. 2700-411) This invention relates to relays and more particularly to a relay having a wide field of usefulness in the electrical field.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved relay which will be simple in construction and of a high order of reliability in operation.

It is a further object of the present invention vto provide an improved relay which will be capable of operation at extremely high speeds.

t is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved relay which can be Xedly and permanently adjusted at the time of aS- sembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved relay which will be free from undesired external contacts and which will be adequately protected from dirt and moisture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a relay which Will be quiet in its operation.

t is a further object of the present invention to provide a relay in which sparking at the contacts will be substantially eliminated.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved form of spring control for the armature of a relay.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the annexed specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer casing being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, central sectional View through the relay, taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a fragmentary central sectional view of the relay illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the con- Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein contained are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is 10 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, an outer cylindrical casing IG is provided of suitable insulating and Water-proof material, such as Bakelite, hard rubber or other desired synthetic plastic material.

The upper end of the casing I0 is preferably ciosed by a suitable cap II of the same material as the casing it, the cap I I preferably being permanently united to the casing I0 to prevent access to the interior of the casing Iii after assembly. The lower end of the casing I El is closed by a suitable base plug I2 which is also preferably of the same material or a material similar to that of the casing IG, and is sealed to the casing in any preferred manner so that the interior is enclosed and access of dirt or moisture thereto is obviated.

'Ihe casing and cap may if desired be made in any other preferred external or internal shape so long as adequate space is provided in the interior for operation of the relay.

A.The base plug I2 is preferably provided with four apertures therethrough for the passage of conductors and with two input Contact prongs I3 and i4 and two output contact prongs I5 and Iii. 35 The input contact prongs may be of slightly larger diameter for purposes of identication of the input circuit connected thereto as hereinafter referred to.

Within the casing i0 a central vertical tube I7 40 of suitable insulating material such as Bakelite, hard rubber or any preferred synthetic plastic material is provided.

At the upper end of the tube I'I, a suitable disc i8 of similar insulating material is mounted and 45 at the lower end thereof a suitable and similar disc I9, of insulating material, is also provided.

A winding 2li, comprising a suitable number of turns of wire, is. provided on the tube IT and between the discs I8 and I9 and apertures 50 are provided in the disc through which conductors 2l and 22 respectively connected to the ends of the winding may pass. The Winding in. the preferred embodiment of the invention may be of high impedance, and if for use, for

65 lic disc 23.

contact prongs |3 and |4, the conductors 2| and 22 and the Winding 20. Y

Suitable metallic end discs 23 and 24 of magnetizable material are also mounted on the top and bottom, respectively. A cylindrical metallic casing or sheath 25 of magnetizable material" is provided around the winding 20.

The metallic sheath 25 is united to the metallic end discs 23 and 24 in any preferred manner,

as for example, by soldering. The disc 24 has suitable apertures (not shown) therethrough for the conductors 2| and 22. The metallic casing or sheath 25 ts snugly within the casing I0 and is connected by a suitable conducton 2B which extends through the base plug |2 to the 25w Contact prong l5.

A metallic contact and core member, which preferably comprises a round pin 26 of magnetizable material, is mounted with a snug t within the lower portion of the tube |1, the up- 30per end thereof being slightly reduced in diameter and provided with a contact face portion 21. Struck out portions 23 may be provided on the pin 21 for engagement with the inner wall of the tube l1 to hold the pin in its adjusted position upon insertion in the tube |1.

The contact face portion 21 may be of any suitable material, such, for example as tungsten, molybdenum, silver or the like.

The lower end of the contact pin or core 26 is connected by a suitable conductor 30 which extends through the base plug |2 to the contact prong |6.

An armature 35 responsive to magnetic force is provided, preferably in the form of a round pin of a diameter less than the internal diameter of the tube l1, and is` freely movable vertically in the upper portion of the tube l1, as hereinafter more fully referred to. The armature 35 is provided at its lower end with a reduced portion for the securing thereto of a contact face portion 36. The Contact face portion 36 may be of any suitable material such, for example, as tungsten, molybdenum, silver or the like for contact, as hereinafter pointed out, with the contact face 21, and the remaining portion of the armature is preferably plated with a suitable conducting material, such as silver.

The armature 35 has a groove 31 near the upper end thereof to provide a reduced body porv tion, an upper face 38 and a lower face 39.

A light spring 40 preferably of steel Wire is provided and one end portion thereof, as at 4|, is secured by solder which may be a portion of the solder securing the sheath 25 and the metal- The light spring 46 is preferably plated with suitable conducting material such, for example, as silver. The light spring 40 includes an intermediate portion curved horizon-V tally and vertically and at the free end thereof has a* bent back portion 42V which is preferably adjusted so that it is in continuous engagement with the upper face 38 of the groove 31' and acts'continuously to urge the'armature 35 upwar'dly. YThe principal purpose in providing this 1 spring 43 is' to carry'the armature 35 back to a normal out of contact position. The spring 40 has very little inertia and is thus capable of operation at high speeds.

The light spring 40, as hereinafter more fully referred to, also acts as an auxiliary electrical conductor between the armature 35 and the sheath 25.

A heavier or stronger spring 45 is pro-vided similar in shape tothe spring 40 and preferably of larger diameter and of spring brass or spring bronze. The heavier spring 45 is alsoI preferably plated with silver or other suitable conducting material.

The heavier spring 45 is capable of exerting a greater force than the light spring 40 for Vpurposes hereinafter pointed out. The heavier spring 45 is secured at one end portion 46 thereof by solder and the solder may be a portion of the solder used to secure the end disc 23 and the metallic sheath 25. The heavier spring 45 has an intermediate portion curved horizontally and vertically, and has a bent-back portion 41 at the free Vend thereof. 'Ihe bentback portion 41 is disposed within thegroove 31 and is adjusted to a position so that when the contact faces 36 and 21 are separated to their greatest extent, the bent-back portion 41 of the spring 45 bears against the lower face 33 of the groove 31 and resiliently limits the uppermost position of the armature 35. The heavier spring 45 is also adjusted so that it contacts the upper face 38 of the groove 31 upon the downward movement of the armature 35 and. just prior to the contacting of the Contact faces 35 and 21. The spring 45 must also be capable of rapid movement. The springs 40 and 45 provide a resilient mounting for the armature 35 and maintain the armature 35 in a central position so that friction of the armature against the inner wall of the tube |1 upon the movement of the armature is substantially eliminated. The heavier spring 45 exerts a force sufficient to overcome the inertia of the armature 35 so that upon deenergization of the winding 20, the armature will be given a quick, short movement following the contact of the contact faces 36 and 21. The action of the heavier spring 45 is superseded as the light spring 43 carries the armature 35 toward its normal open position at which time the heavier spring 45 again becomes effective by contact of the portion 41 against the face V39 to limit the outward movement of the armature 35. It will be seen that the springs 44 and 45, by reason of their characteristics, have different periods of vibration and this difference prevents resonance at any xed speed.

The armature 35, by reason of the co-nnection of the springs 43 and 45 to the metallic casing 25 and the physical contact of the springs 46 and 45 with the armature 35, will permit current to pass therethrough.

The output circuit thus comprises the output contact prong I5, the conductor 28, the metallic sheath 25, the heavier spring 45 and the light spring 40, the .armature 35 with the contact face portion 36, the contact pin 26 with the contact face portion 21, the conductor 3i) and the other output Contact prong i5,

The mode of operation of the preferred form of the relay will now be pointed out.

The contact prongs i3 and I4 are preferably connected into a direct currentl input circuit (not shown) which may be a circuit for keying, time delay, voltage or current indication or any other circuit lWhere a relay of this character is de- 'sired The contact prongs I5 and I6 are preferably connected into the output circuit (not shown) which is to be controlled. The output circuit may be an alternating current or a dir-ect current circuit as desired.

Upon the energization of the input circuit, the current is supplied by means of the contact prongs i3 and I4, and the conductors 2I and 22 to the winding 20, and a magnetic field is built up. The magnetic eld includes the winding 28, the end member 23, the metallic casing 25, the end member 24, the core and contact pin 25, and the armature 35. This magnetic held thus has a xed reluctance at the ends of the tube I1 and a variable or changeable reluctance between the Contact pin 25 and the armature 35. The magnetic iield is suicient in force to draw the armature 35 against the force of the light spring 4I?, which is in continuous contact with the upper face 38 and this force is suflicient to actuate the armature 5 at a speed approximately equal to or greater than the return speed of the springs 4i) and 45. The armature is thus drawn to a position where the upper face 38 of the groove 31 comes in. contact with the heavier spring 45 and continues to move downwardly until the contact face 36 of the armature 35 is brought into contact with the contact face 21 of the pin 25. The magnetic force acting on the armature 35 becomes stronger as the armature approaches the contact pin 25. As the arma-ture 35 moves to the contact position, the combined force of the light spring 4I! and the heavier spring 45 is overcome to permit of contact between the contact faces 35 and 21.

Upon the deenergization of the electrical circuit which includes the winding 25, the residual magnetic force is not, however, suiicient to hold the armature 35 in contact position, and the combined force of the springs 4B and 45 is effective to move the armature 55 away from the contact pin 26 and the force exerted by the heavier spring 45 is suiiicient to bring about a rapid separation of the contact.faces 35 and 21. This reduces any tendency to sparking at the contact faces 36 and 21. The heavier spring 45 is particularly7 effective against the f'orce of the residual magnetism, so that the desired rapid breaking of the contact between the contact faces 35 and 21 is brought about.

A relay constructed in accordance with the present invention will have a speed range in eX- cess of one hundred contacts per second.

The relay may also have the input terminals i5 and I4 connected into an alternating current circuit (not shown) where it is desired to have the armature 35 operate to follow at alternating current power frequencies or for other purposes.

In the modied form o1" the invention illustra-ted in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, provision is made for using certain of the features of construction illustrated. in Figs. 1 to fi, inclusive, for a double contact relay and like reference characters have een applied thereto.

The cap il at the upper end of the casing i5 is preferably provided with a hollow plug 55, eX- ternally threaded as at 5I, and through which a conductor 52 is adapted to be passed and to be secured thereto by solder or the ke, as at A contact sleeve 54 is provided for engagement with the threaded plug 55.

rEhe metallic end disc 23 preferably has secured thereto a threaded post 55 and an insulating sleeve 56 of Bakelite or similar material is mounted thereon. A contact bracket 51 is also mounted on the post 55 and is insulated therefrom by the insulating sleeve 55 thereunder and an additional insulating sleeve 58 thereabove. An internally threaded collar 6i) is mounted on the upper end of the post 55 and holds the bracket 51 and the sleeves 56 and 58 in position. The conductor 52 is electrically connected to the bracket 51 in any suitable manner, as for example by solder.

A contact member 6I isprovided on the under side of the Contact bracket 51 and is of any suitable material such for example as tungsten, molybdenum, silver' 0r the like.

The armature 35a also has a contact face portion 62 provided on the upper end thereof which may also be of tungsten, molybdenum, silver or the like, for contact with the contact face portion 6I when the armature 35a is in its uppermost position. The contact bracket 51 and the contact meinber- 5i thereon serve to limit the upper movement of the armature 35a so that in either of its limiting positions a. circuit is completed through the armature 35a.

The armature 35a preferably has a slot 63 therein and thebent-back portion 42 of the light spring 40 is in engagement with the upper portion for continuously urging the armature 35a upwardly so that the contact face portion 62 may be brought into contact with the yContact face portion when the winding is deenergized.

The armature 35a preferably also hasV a slot 54 therein oppositely disposed with respect to the slot 53, and the bent-back portion 41 of the heavier spring 45 bears against the upper face of the slot 54 upon downward movement of the armature 35a and just prior to the contacting of the contact faces 36 and 21 as explained with reference to the relay shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The springs 48 and 45 provide `a resilient mounting for the armature 35a and maintain the armature 55a in a central position, as heretofore pointed out.

With the relay illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inelusive, the input circuit is the same as for the relay shown in Figs. 1 to a, inclusive. Two output circuits'are provided. One of these output circuits which is effective when the input circuit and the winding 29 therein are energized, is the same as with the relay shown in. Figs. 1 to 4, incusive, and the other of these circuits which is effective when. the winding 20 is deenergized and the armature 35a has been returned to its upper limiting position, comprises the output contact prong I5, the conductor 28, the metallic sheath 25, the heavier spring 45 and the light spring 4G, the armature 35a with the contact face portion 62, the contact member 6I, the contact bracket 51, the conductor 52, the plug 50, and the contact sleeve 54.

The relay illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, may be used for the same purpose or similar purposes as the relay shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and has additional fields of use arising out of the provision of the extra contacts thereon.

I claim:

1. A relay having a winding, a. movable armature, and a resilient mounting for said armature, said resilient mounting having a portion for continuously urging said armature in a predetermined direction and another portion for urging said armature in the same predetermined direction during a part only of the movement of said armature.

2. A relay having a winding, a movable armature, and a resilient mlounting for said armature, said resilient mounting having a portion for 75' ber urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and an additional resilient member urging said armature in the same predetermined direction during apart only of the movement of said armature.

4. A relay having a winding, a movable armature, and a resilient mounting for said armature, said resilient mounting including a resilient member for urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and an additional resilient member for urging said armature in the same predearmature.

termined direction during one part of the movement of said armature and for limiting the movement ofsaid armature in said predetermined direction at another part of the movement of said 5. A relay having a Winding provided with a central space therein, an armature movably mounted in said space and a resilient mounting for said armature, said resilient Ymounting including la resilient member in contact with said armature for urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and another resilient member for urging said .armature in the same predetermined direction during a part of the move- `ment of s-aid armature and for limiting the movemlent of said :armature in said predetermined direction at another part of the movement of said armature.

6. A relay including a tube, a Winding about said tube, an armature movably mounted within s-aid tube, a casing enclosing said Winding, and a resilient mounting for said armature for controlling the movement of said armature, said `mounting including a resilient member carried by said casing for continuously urging said armature in a predetermined direction, said mounting also including another resilient member of great-V er force secured to said casing, and a lost motion connection between said other resilient member and said armature.

7. A relay including a tube, a Winding about said tube, an armature movably mounted Within said tube, a casing enclosing said winding, and

Vresilient members for controlling the movement of said armature, one of said resilient members including a spring carried by said casing for continuously urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and another lof said resilient members including a spring of greater force secured to said casing, and a lost motion connection between said second spring and said armature.

8. A relay having a hollow cylindrical Winding, `a magnetizable metal casing enclosing said Winding, a magnetizable contact member mounted Within a portion ofthe space within said Winding and electrically insulated from said casing, an armature movable Within a portion of the space within said Winding for contact With said contact member, and a resilient mountingV for said armature electrically connecting said casing and said armature, said resilient mounting having a portion for continuously urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and said resilient mounting having another portion forrestraining the movement of said armature.

9. A relay having a hollow cylindrical Winding, a magnetizable metal casing enclosing said Winding, a magnetizable Contact member mounted Within the space within said Winding and electrically insulated from said casing, an armature movable Within a portion of the space Within said Winding for contact with said Contact member, and a resilient mounting for said armature electrically connecting said casing and said armature, said resilient mounting including a plurality oi resilient members engaging said armature.

10. A relay having a tubular member, a Winding about said member, a magnetizable metal casing enclosing said Winding, a magnetizable contact member mounted Within a portion of the tubular member and electrically insulated from said casing, an armature movable Within a portion of the tubular member and within said Winding for contact with said Contact member, and a resilient mounting for said armature for controlling the movement of said armature, said resilient mounting having a portion in continuous engagement with a part of said armature, and another portion in intermittent engagement with a part of said armature for assisting said rst mentioned portion during a part of the movement of said armature.

11. A relay having a Winding, an armature actuated by said Winding, said armature having a groove therein, a resilient member in engagement with said armature at one end of said groove for urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and a second resilient member in engagement with said armature at the same end of said groove in one position of said armature and in engagement With the opposite end of said groove at another position of said armature.

12. A relay having a Winding, an armature actuated by said winding, said armature having an elongated groove therein, a resilient member in engagement with said armature at one end of said groove for urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and another resilient member for engagement alternately With the ends' of said groove.

13. A relay having a Winding, a movable armature, a resilient mounting for said armature, said resilient mounting having a portion for continuously urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and another portion for urging said armature'in the same predetermined direction during a part only of the movement of said armature, and a fiXedly mounted member for limiting the movement of said armature in said predetermined direction.

14. A relay having a winding, a movable armature, a resilient mounting for said armature, said resilient mounting including a resilient member for urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and an additional resilient member for urging said armature in the same predetermined direction during a part only of the movement of said armature, and a xedly mounted member limiting the movement of said armature in said predetermined direction.

15. A relay having a Winding, a movable armature having a plurality of contact portions thereo-n, a resilient mounting for said armature, said resilient mounting including a resilient member for urging said armature in a predetermined direction and an additional resilient member for urging said armature in the same predetermined direction during a part only of the movement of said armature, and a flxedly mounted Contact member for contact With one of the contact portions limiting the movement of said armature in one direction.

16. A relay having a hollow cylindrical Winding, a magnetizable metal casing enclosing said Winding, a contact member mounted Within a portion of the space within said winding and electrically insulated from said casing, an arma ture movable Within a portion of the space Within said winding, said armature having a plurality of contact portions, a resilient mounting for said armature electrically connecting said casing and said armature, said resilient mounting having a portion for continuously urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and another portion for intermittently urging said armature in the same predetermined direction, and an additional xedly mounted contact member for contact with said armature and for limiting the movement of said armature in one direction.

17. A relay having a hollow cylindrical winding, a magnetizable metal casing enclosing said Winding, a contact member mounted Within the space Within said Winding and electrically insulated frorn said casing, an armature movable within a` portion of the space Within said Winding, said armature having a portion for Contact with said contact member and having an additional contact portion, a resilient mounting for said armature electrically connecting said casing and said armature, said resilient mounting including a resilient member mounted on said casing for urging said armature in a predetermined direction and out of contact with said contact member, a second resilient member for urging said armature in the same predetermined direciicn during a part of the movement of said armature, and an additional xedly mounted contact member for Contact with said additional contact portion of said armature and for limiting the movement of said armature in said predetermined direction.

18. A relay including a Winding, a movably mounted armature, a casing enclosing said winding, and resilient members for controlling the movement of said armature, said resilient members including a spring carried by said casing for continuously urging said armature in a predetermined direction, and a spring of greater force secured to said casing and intermittently urging said armature in the same predetermined direction, and a plurality of contact members for limiting the extent of movement of said armature in the predetermined direction and in the opposite direction.

LAURANCE E. GARDINER. 

